Beckhoplia julianae Dombrow, 2005

Dombrow, Holger E. & Colville, Jonathan F., 2020, Review of the genus Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005 with the description of fifteen new species from South Africa and observations on its biogeography (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Hopliini), Zootaxa 4823, pp. 1-79 : 53-55

Beckhoplia julianae Dombrow, 2005

( Figs. 27 , 84–85 , 111 )

http://zoobank.org/ 61F58CC0-24C7-4CAC-909A-42B901BBCD2C

Beckhoplia julianae Dombrow, 2005: 126 .

Type locality. [ RSA, NCP]: Kamieskroon 11 km S .

Type material. [3] Holotype ♂: white label pr « SOUTH AFRICA: Northern | Cape, Namaqualand | Kamieskroon 11 km S at | 30.16.26S-17.53.48E» bs pr «Time: 14:30, 04.Sept.2001 | alt. 722 m, ASTERACEAE : | Didelta carnosa | leg. Holger Dombrow || yellow label hw «54» pr «.995 | coll. Dombrow» || blue label pr «Bioregion: | Namaqualand Hardeveld | Vegetation Type: SKn3 – | Namaqualand Blomveld» || yellow label pr «SAM–COL | A071216» || red label pr « Holotype | Beckhoplia | julianae sp.n. | det.: Dombrow 2003» ( SAMC). – Paratypes: 2 ♂♂: same labels as holotype but || yellow label hw «18» pr «.468–.469 | coll. Dombrow» || red label pr « Paratype | Beckhoplia | julianae sp.n. | det.: Dombrow 2003» ( ESDW).

Condition of holotype. Very good. Glued on card. Dissected, parameres glued behind beetle.

Taxonomic note. In consequence of the fact that the only #f of the type series is not from the type locality. It will not be evaluated as a #f of B. julianae . Because a new species B. elkeae close allied to B. julianae occur at Groenvlei Pass which is very near to Kilian’s Pass. Compared to the # ♀ f of B. elkeae no differences could be found. This led to the result that the specimen is a #f of B. elkeae and will be listed there as additional material.

Differential diagnosis. Differs from B. elkeae: Lateral margin of pronotum of B. julianae slightly concave attenuate anteriorly, linearly attenuate posteriorly. Lateral margin of pronotum of B. elkeae linearly attenuate anteriorly, slightly convex attenuate posteriorly. Interno-posterior margin of parameres of B. julianae broad parabola-shaped in dorsal view ( Figs. 84 , 111 ). Interno-posterior margin of parameres of B. elkeae broad curly bracket-shaped in dorsal view ( Figs. 86 , 112 ). Externo-posterior margin of parameres of B. julianae convex in dorsal view ( Figs. 84 , 111 ). Externo-posterior margin of parameres of B. elkeae distinctly undulate in dorsal view ( Figs. 86 , 112 ).

Redescription

Measurements: length 7.6–8.2 mm; width 3.8–4.4 mm.

Integument: Black; elytra transparently pale-brown, lateral and posterior margin broadly blackened.

Tegument: Clypeus bare; sparse setose with short, erect, black setae on the inner side of the reflexed anterior and lateral margins. Head loose setose with medium-long and long, erect, black setae. Eye canthus with a loose setose ciliary of medium-long, black, setae. Scapus loose setose with medium-long, black setae, pale-brown ventrally, sparse and short on pedicellus; funiculum with few very short, erect, brown setae, sparse on clavus. Pronotum loose setose with medium-long and long, erect, whitish setae; long, erect, dark brown setae interspersed in anterior half; with a loose setose ciliary of long, black and whitish setae on lateral margin. Scutellum loose setose with short and medium-long, semi-erect, whitish setae. Elytra with pattern. Sparse setose with short, reclinate, black setae, denser in darkened areas; long, erect, black setae interspersed in anterior third; with two loose, longitudinal rows of distinctly long, erect, black setae: a juxta-sutural row from anterior margin crossing scutellar torus towards apical torus, shorter in apical quarter; a supra-humeral row from anterior margin between humerus and scutellar torus towards apical torus, shorter in apical half; with three dense squamose shortened, longitudinal stripes of reclinate, lanceolate, white scales: a sutural stripe in apical third; a juxta-sutural stripe from behind middle, terminating towards apical third; a lateral stripe beside apical torus. Suture with a loose row of long and distinctly long, robust, erect, black setae. Thorax and pleurites loose pilose with long, white hairs. Ventrite I–V dense squamose with reclinate, lanceolate, transparently white scales; medium-long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed. Propygidium dense squamose with reclinate, oblanceolate, transparently white scales; medium-long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed. Pygidium sparse setose with medium-long, erect, black setae; tip with a loose setose ciliary of long, black setae. Prothoracic femur loose pilose with long, white hairs; bare internally. Prothoracic tibia loose setose with short, reclinate, white setae; medium-long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed, long ventrally; with a sparse setose longitudinal row of medium-long, erect, black setae dorsally; a loose setose ciliary of short, black and white setae on internal ridge; a sparse setose ciliary of short, transparently white setae on external ridge; a setaceous ciliary of short, black setae on anterior margin, more robust towards internal ridge; a medium-long, downwards pointing setose ciliary of pale-brown setae along anterior margin of apical tooth. Mesothoracic femur loose pilose with long, whitish hairs; distinctly long ventrally; bare internally. Mesothoracic tibia sparse setose with short, reclinate white setae; mediumlong, semi-erect, robust, black setae interspersed, long and fine internally. Posterior margin with a bristled ciliary of very short and short, black bristles; lengthening dorsally; missing internally. Metathoracic femur loose setose with medium-long, semi-erect, white setae, long dorsally; medium-long, erect, robust, black setae interspersed externally; bare internally. Metathoracic tibia sparse setose with short, semi-erect, black setae; medium-long, semi-erect, black setae interspersed; sparse setose with long, erect, black setae internally. Posterior margin with a loose bristled outer marginal ciliary of short, black bristles, lengthening dorsally and ventrally. Tarsomere I–IV of all thoracic legs sparse setose with very short, reclinate, pale-brown setae; with a setaceous, apical, marginal ciliary of short, black setae, lengthening towards metathoracic tarsomeres, fine dorsally and more robust ventrally. Pretarsomere of all thoracic legs sparse setose with very short, reclinate, pale-brown setae, lengthening and darkening towards metathoracic pretarsomere; few, medium-long, semi-erect, black setae at apical margin, shorter and dark red-brown ventrally.

Head: Suture between head and clypeus linear, crenated. Head dense punctate with very small, shallow, roundish, not merging punctures. Funicle I–II cylindrical, slightly thickened medially; funicle III very short asymmetric frustum-shaped; clavus elliptic, as long as pedicellus and funiculum combined.

Pronotum: Widest in anterior two fifth; loose punctate with very small, shallow, roundish punctures. Anterior corner acute. Lateral margin slightly concave attenuate anteriorly, linearly attenuate posteriorly. With an indistinct, shortened, shallow medial furrow from posterior margin terminating in anterior fifth. Posterior corner rounded.

Scutellum: Parabola-shaped; as broad as long; dense punctate with very small, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctate within; with a complete, median, longitudinal, broad, smooth stripe. Lateral margin slightly convex. Tip pointed.

Elytra: Ovate; longer than broad; widest in anterior third; covering propygidium. Lateral margin slightly convex attenuate apically. Sculpture distinct; dorsally not pulvinate laterally; humerus distinct; with a very broad roundish torus around scutellum; lateral trench distinct; complanate along scutellum; slightly, broadly depressed along suture. Loose punctate with extremely small, shallow, roundish punctures, micropunctures in-between; a loose juxta-sutural row of small, deep, roundish punctures from anterior margin, crossing scutellar torus to apical torus; a sparse supra-humeral row of very small, shallow and deep, roundish punctures from anterior margin between humerus and scutellar torus to apical torus, terminating medially.

Abdomen: Ventrite I distinctly shortened medially; ventrite V slightly constricted ventrally. Propygidium with an indistinct stoma at posterior corner. Pygidium slightly pulvinate longitudinally and laterally; upper margin moderately convex, linear medially; lateral margin subparallel in upper fifth, linearly attenuate apically; tip rounded.

Prothoracic leg: Femur and tibia slender. Tibia smooth ventrally. Median tooth robust Basal tooth rudimentary. Interspace between teeth almost equal. Shape of interspace between anterior and median tooth u-shaped and between median and basal tooth slightly concave. Tarsomere I–IV combined extremely short; equal in length; 2 / 5 in length of tibia. Tarsomere IV with a single ventral extension. Pretarsomere distinctly thickened; smooth ventrally; slightly longer than length of tarsomere I–IV combined. Internal claw slightly less than 1 / 5 more in length of pretarsomere. External claw slightly less than 4 / 5 in length of internal claw.

Mesothoracic leg: Tibia slightly shorter than femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined extremely short; slightly less than 3 / 10 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere with a shortened undulate ridge ventrally, followed by a roundish cutting apically; slightly less than 1 / 5 more in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw as long as pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly less than 9 /

10 in length of external claw.

Metathoracic leg: Tibia slightly more than 1 / 10 more in length of femur. Tarsomere I–IV combined distinctly short; slightly more than 3 / 5 in length of tibia. Pretarsomere slightly thickened; with an undulate ridge ventrally; slightly less than 1 / 2 in length of tarsomere I–IV combined. External claw slightly more than 1 / 5 more in length of pretarsomere. Internal claw slightly less than 9 / 10 in length of external claw.

Parameres: ( Figs. 84–85 , 111 ).

♀: Unknown.

Distribution. Northern Cape Province ( Fig. 140 ), only known from the type locality.

Vegetation Type. Namaqualand Blomveld (SKn 3).

Host Plants. Asteraceae : Didelta carnosa (L.f.) Aiton.

Figures

FIGURE 140. Distributions of 18 Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005 species, showing the concentration of species around the Northern Cape town of Nieuwoudtville.

FIGURES 23–28. General drawings of the pronotum and scutellum of Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005 species, in lateral view ♂♂. Pronotum: 23, posterior corner obtuse, angled; 24, rounded. Scutellum: 25, posterior corner obtuse, angled; 26, rounded; 27, tip pointed; 28, tip rounded. Scale bar 1 mm.

FIGURES 62–97. Parameres and phallobase of Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005 species, in dorsal view (left side), in lateral view (right side), ♂♂. 62–63, B. nigra Dombrow, new species; 64–65, B. pallidibrunnea Dombrow, new species; 66–67, B. fusca Dombrow, new species; 68–69, B. setosa Dombrow, new species; 70–71, B. castanea Dombrow, new species; 72–73, B. colvillei Dombrow, 2005; 74–75, B. pulchra Dombrow, new species; 76–77, B. nigrofasciata Dombrow, new species; 78–79, B. caliginosa Dombrow, new species; 80–81, B. pumila Dombrow, new species; 82–83, B. gifbergensis Dombrow, new species; 84–85, B. julianae Dombrow, 2005; 86–87, B. elkeae Dombrow, new species; 88–89, B. suturalis Dombrow, new species; 90–91, B. nigrosetosa Dombrow, new species; 92–93, B. occidentalis Dombrow, 2005; 94–95, B. bicolor Dombrow, new species; 96–97, B. dolichiocnemis Dombrow, new species; 98–99, Anisochelus inornatus Burmeister, 1844. Scale bar 1mm.

FIGURES 100–117. Detailed drawings of the parameres for the key and the differential diagnosis of Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005 species, in dorsal view, ♂♂. Arrows indicate characters of importance. 100, B. nigra Dombrow, new species; 101, B. pallidibrunnea Dombrow, new species; 102, B. fusca Dombrow, new species; 103, B. setosa Dombrow, new species; 104, B. castanea Dombrow, new species; 105, B. colvillei Dombrow, 2005; 106, B. pulchra Dombrow, new species; 107, B. nigrofasciata Dombrow, new species; 108, B. caliginosa Dombrow, new species; 109, B. pumila Dombrow, new species; 110, B. gifbergensis Dombrow, new species; 111, B. julianae Dombrow, 2005; 112, B. elkeae Dombrow, new species; 113, B. suturalis Dombrow, new species; 114, B. nigrosetosa Dombrow, new species; 115, B. occidentalis Dombrow, 2005; 116, B. bicolor Dombrow, new species; 117, B. dolichiocnemis Dombrow sp.n. Scale bar 1mm.